Turkey: Meşale Tolu’s Hearing Adjourned To February 2021, Defense Lawyer’s Request On The Extension Of Prosecution Is Accepted
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: July 14, 2020Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Charged with "being members of a terrorist organization" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization", 27 people including Etkin News Agency (ETHA) reporter and translator Meşale Tolu had their 12th hearing at the İstanbul 29th Heavy Penal Court today.
While German-Turkish journalist Meşale Tolu, who is currently abroad, and the defendants, whose requests for exemption from the hearings were granted, did not stand before the judge, their attorneys attended the hearing.
According to the indictment, Meşale - a journalist and translator - has been sued for attending a march held in 2014 to protest the killing of Suphi Nejat Ağırnaslı, a student of Boğaziçi University who was killed near Kobane during the fight against ISIS. in 2014, Meşale also took part in an anti-corruption demonstration organized by the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) in Istanbul’s Kadıköy District. She was also accused of attending the funeral of two women - Yeliz Erbay and Şirin Öter, who was killed during a police raid at a house in Istanbul.
Meşale was previously jailed through anonymous witness statements and had returned to Germany upon re-obtaining her passport.
During today’s hearing, Meşale’s lawyer Keleş Öztürk presented his request for his client: "We requested an extension of the prosecution on 11 November 2019. We care about this issue because the client is allegedly involved in some incidents. We want to investigate whether there was a crime detected at the time of the incident."
The court, in accepting the request ordered that a writ be sent to İstanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and Gaziosmanpaşa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to ask whether there were any investigations or prosecutions against Meşale Tolu, and adjourned the trial until February 11th, 2021.
Coalition For Women In Journalism demands that Turkish authorities acquit Meşale of the charges immediately. No journalist should be threatened with lawsuits. It is high time for Turkey to allow freedom of speech and expression in the country, rather than stifling using force.
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The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world, and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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The Coalition For Women In Journalism closely monitors the incidents in Turkey with great concern. Since March 8, Women's Day, police violence against women journalists increasingly continues in the country. As the coalition, we urge the Turkish state to provide a free environment for journalists. Following the news is our most fundamental democratic right to report. We demand the immediate release of our detained colleagues. Journalism is not a crime. Journalism cannot be prevented.
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